Dear Editor,
The world continues to change at a rapid pace. In some regards, the change which is unfolding in front of our eyes is very much frightening, while on the other hand change, in and of itself, can be a welcoming concept which bodes well for human sexuality and development. Human sexuality has not been spared these changes and this was clearly reinforced recently in the US, where former Olympian Bruce Jenner revealed in a television interview that he is transgendered after struggling for many years with his gender identity.
Gender identity refers to one's core conviction of being a man, woman, or another gender such as transgender. One's gender identity is who you feel you are on the inside. And there are many people who are at odds with their biological sex, that is the way your body was made.
Indeed, some people refer to themselves as transgender or 'trans' because they were born biological one sex, but emotionally and mentally they see themselves as belonging to the opposite sex. Interestingly, Bruce Jenner was married three times and fathered six children. Despite this, he still did not feel he was a man. To a large extent, we receive formal and informal messages about our gender identity from a multitude of sources, such as the family, the media, our peers, and the wider communities in which we live. These messages can either empower or concretise our gender identity, but in some instances the opposite happens, and there are those who are limited by messages of gender identity.
Transgendering is an expensive process and, in many instances, the journey ends with the individual doing reassignment surgery. The course of action usually takes place over a number of years and involves hormone injections, psychotherapy and extensive plastic surgery. There are some who might argue that individuals who choose surgical intervention are playing God. However, to feel trapped in the wrong sex is no laughing matter, and it is best not to judge since we have no idea what it is like for many in the transgender community.
For some it might be a bit puzzling to fully grasped man-to-female transition given the dominance and privilege men have in all societies. However, for some, transgender identities transcend binary conceptualisations of gender and sex.
In many developed societies they have started to revisit the language in which laws are drafted. Interestingly, the recently tabled DNA legislation in Jamaica makes the assumption that all the samples will be taken from male suspects.The time has come for policymakers to be more careful with the personal pronouns in drafting our laws. In too many instances the laws of the land are gender-specific, which ought not be. We need to be more sensitive and be forward-thinking by drafting gender-free legislation where possible.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo
Gender talk must impact DNA laws
-->
The world continues to change at a rapid pace. In some regards, the change which is unfolding in front of our eyes is very much frightening, while on the other hand change, in and of itself, can be a welcoming concept which bodes well for human sexuality and development. Human sexuality has not been spared these changes and this was clearly reinforced recently in the US, where former Olympian Bruce Jenner revealed in a television interview that he is transgendered after struggling for many years with his gender identity.
Gender identity refers to one's core conviction of being a man, woman, or another gender such as transgender. One's gender identity is who you feel you are on the inside. And there are many people who are at odds with their biological sex, that is the way your body was made.
Indeed, some people refer to themselves as transgender or 'trans' because they were born biological one sex, but emotionally and mentally they see themselves as belonging to the opposite sex. Interestingly, Bruce Jenner was married three times and fathered six children. Despite this, he still did not feel he was a man. To a large extent, we receive formal and informal messages about our gender identity from a multitude of sources, such as the family, the media, our peers, and the wider communities in which we live. These messages can either empower or concretise our gender identity, but in some instances the opposite happens, and there are those who are limited by messages of gender identity.
Transgendering is an expensive process and, in many instances, the journey ends with the individual doing reassignment surgery. The course of action usually takes place over a number of years and involves hormone injections, psychotherapy and extensive plastic surgery. There are some who might argue that individuals who choose surgical intervention are playing God. However, to feel trapped in the wrong sex is no laughing matter, and it is best not to judge since we have no idea what it is like for many in the transgender community.
For some it might be a bit puzzling to fully grasped man-to-female transition given the dominance and privilege men have in all societies. However, for some, transgender identities transcend binary conceptualisations of gender and sex.
In many developed societies they have started to revisit the language in which laws are drafted. Interestingly, the recently tabled DNA legislation in Jamaica makes the assumption that all the samples will be taken from male suspects.The time has come for policymakers to be more careful with the personal pronouns in drafting our laws. In too many instances the laws of the land are gender-specific, which ought not be. We need to be more sensitive and be forward-thinking by drafting gender-free legislation where possible.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo
Gender talk must impact DNA laws
-->